Cost of living comparison
Malawi is 39.7% cheaper than United States.
If you lived in Malawi instead of United States, you would:
pay 58.4% less for restaurants
United States
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$18.59
|
$4.32
MWK7,480.61
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$10.47
|
$9.04
MWK15,654.41
|
|
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$2.50
|
$0.87
MWK1,509.20
|
|
Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$1.96
|
$0.43
MWK749.27
|
|
pay 40.2% less for groceries
United States
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$3.49
|
$1.36
MWK2,362.35
|
|
Local cheese (8 oz) |
$6.33
|
$4.82
MWK8,340.46
|
|
Milk (1 gallon) |
$3.91
|
$4.51
MWK7,812.68
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$3.56
|
$2.31
MWK3,992.35
|
|
Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$5.16
|
$1.93
MWK3,333.22
|
|
Apples (1 lb) |
$2.33
|
$1.03
MWK1,791.12
|
|
Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.78
|
$0.81
MWK1,401.48
|
|
Oranges (1 lb) |
$2.00
|
$1.12
MWK1,936.45
|
|
Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$2.16
|
$0.53
MWK912.41
|
|
Potatoes (1 lb) |
$1.34
|
$0.72
MWK1,245.72
|
|
Onions (1 lb) |
$1.38
|
$0.59
MWK1,014.82
|
|
pay 1.3% more for transportation
United States
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$3.61
|
$6.19
MWK10,711.02
|
|
Monthly public transit pass |
$65.15
|
$4.32
MWK7,480.35
|
|
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$31,583.67
|
$35,669.17
MWK61,735,618.67
|
|
Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$17.81
|
$20.40
MWK35,312.04
|
|
pay 19.4% less for housing
United States
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$67.50
|
$186.12
MWK322,141.83
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$1,655.99
|
$202.19
MWK349,940.16
|
|
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$1,423.40
|
$98.76
MWK170,937.23
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$148.34
|
$41.29
MWK71,457.01
|
|
pay 83.6% less for childcare
United States
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$1,351.84
|
$354.75
MWK614,002.31
|
|
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$22,265.44
|
$1,467.81
MWK2,540,461.89
|
|
pay 55.1% less for entertainment and sports
United States
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$5.78
|
$1.12
MWK1,937.49
|
|
Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$5.04
|
$2.91
MWK5,041.64
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$9.68
|
$1.59
MWK2,745.95
|
|
Monthly membership at local gym |
$50.84
|
$51.33
MWK88,846.55
|
|
Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$13.30
|
$3.95
MWK6,837.56
|
|
pay 22.8% less for clothing
United States
|
Malawi
|
||
---|---|---|---|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$50.38
|
$45.22
MWK78,272.98
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$40.66
|
$34.94
MWK60,478.77
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$85.52
|
$59.17
MWK102,413.07
|
|
Men's business shoes (leather) |
$111.08
|
$70.71
MWK122,375.30
|
|
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